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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Spring is here! Though you wouldn’t know it with the near
foot of snow we just received yesterday. Regardless, Spring planting, and
planning for planting, is upon us. The snow won’t last forever so let’s talk
about a few things that will help our gardens grow.

First,
before you mulch- compost! Adding good, organic compost to your lawn, flower
beds, and garden will jump start the nutrients and help to feed your new
plants. I buy compost that is locally made by a food scrap compost program and
it works wonders! Apply a generous amount (half and inch to an inch) and turn
it into the soil. Then you can go ahead and put mulch down to keep weeds from
emerging.

If you grow a food garden, remember that some plants take
more of one thing than another from the soil so some nutrients can get depleted
quickly. Apply a generous amount of compost and turn the soil. This will help
your garden get all the nutrients it needs to grow. I have seen 12 foot tomato
plants with tomatoes all the way to the top with a good compost mix applied!

In my garden, I try to make raised rows for plants with nice
deep valleys between them. This helps with watering. Water in the valleys and
put down straw to keep the sun from evaporating too much water (also prevents
weeds), and you will conserve water usage.

It depends on where you live and what grows well there but
try to get plants that are native to the area. That means less maintenance is
required so you can have a beautiful garden that won’t require too many
additional resources to maintain. Hey, I am all about having more time to do
other things in the Spring and Summer.

Friday, March 15, 2013

What is it about recycling that turns some people off and
others get really excited about it? I heard a recent report about interviews
with several hundred non-recyclers who gave many reasons for not recycling.
Some of these were the usual ones that we recyclers hear all the time about it
not being convenient, not knowing what the rules are, and not thinking it
really does any good.

But the most often stated answer was very shocking to me.
They most often stated reason was that they didn’t like the attitudes of those
of us who do recycle. Saying that we act like we are better than them and it
makes them want to throw it away instead of recycle just to spite us.

I have to wonder about this answer. It sounds more like a
teenage rebellion response than a legitimate one. I admit; I do give people
several economic and environmental benefit reasons to recycle that material
they just threw away if I see it happen. But does this make it sound like I am
better than them in their minds? Or do they just feel guilty and resent me for
making them feel guilty?

This is important to
me because I would like to know how we as a nation get beyond the 34% national
recycling rate that we have been stuck at for several years. And that counts
everything, not just residential. Residential recycling is a mere 21%.

So, what ideas are out there to help get the message out
there about the benefits of recycling and how to recycle? The industry has
tried many approaches but we still seem to stagnate. Please comment with your
ideas and suggestions. Or, if you have different reasons why you don’t recycle
(if you don’t recycle) please share as well.